Drider Boyfriend: Primakos (special preview)

They stiffen and inch forward. “What for?”

“To study,” you say excitedly. “I mean, look at you! I’ve never seen anything like you in my entire life.”

They hiss loudly. 

“Sorry, I just-” You try to collect all the thoughts and questions in your head. In all your years you had never thought about even coming close to a discovery like this. “You speak English! How is that possible?”

“How do you speak it?” They toss back. 

“Well uh-” You shut your mouth and place your hands over your knees. 

“If you’re well enough to ask all sorts of silly questions, you must be well enough to go.” They use the sharp talons on the legs at their waist to cut the silk from my legs.

“Please, let me stay!” You try to reason with them but they pick you up and toss you over their shoulder. You notice their back and arms are covered in coarse black hair, but their chest is smooth.

“I just want to ask a few more questions. Please!” You gasp as they carry you up the wall, taking your nearly upside down as they reach the hole in the ceiling. They move the door aside then crawl out onto the wet surface of the forest floor.

They set you down on the ground and you turn to look up at them. You’re used to people towering over you, but this one most be well over six feet, standing over you like a dark cloud. As they moon parts through the rainclouds, you see their eyes shimmer green, then pink, then blue. There are four along their forehead, two in the center that are larger. Then two more on the temples that sort of cut back further than the rest. White mandibles circle around the rest of the mouth, twitching and looking like a huge smile.

“Oh wow,” you gasp. “You’re beautiful.”

They flinch. “Excuse me.”

“Who are you?” You whisper, still in awe. “What are you?” You step closer to them and they inch back towards their burrow. 

You still yourself, not wanting to scare them away. You tell them your name and they stiffen their neck.

They reach out slowly, tapping your cheek. They then pinch and you wince away from them.

“Ow, what are you doing?” You cup your hand over your cheek.

“Your markings look like small bugs.” They touch your cheek again and you find the pads of their fingers are soft to the touch. They have a fine for on them, probably for being able to touch their own silk and not stick.

“They’re freckles,” you laugh.

Their fingers smooth down, following the freckles. “Are they under the skin?”

“It is my skin.” You hold out your hand to them. “What’s your name?”

They stiffen and then place their palm on top of yours. “Primakos of the Granirid.” They slip their fingers up your arm. 

“Granirid? Is that your clan or something?” His fingers wiggle under your sleeve.

They make a face at you then pull their hand away. “I won’t tell you anything. Not until I know I can trust you.”

“That’s fine!” You jump in excitement. “I’d like to earn it! What can I do?”

Primakos tilts their head, looking at you. They then place their hand upon your head and scratch at your scalp. They then push you back. “Go back to the cabin, little one. I don’t care for your kind, and you already ruined my meal today.” They slip back into the burrow, closing the door so you cannot enter. 

You leave, heading back to the cabin where everyone is in a panic, thinking you’ve gone missing. You get a check up for the bruise on the back of your neck, but everything is fine. You don’t tell anyone about Primakos, you’re afraid of what would happen if you did. This isn’t like anything else you’ve studied, and you don’t want to ruin your chance.